2012年7月28日星期六

【校本評估像霧又像花?(第1篇)】 - 《中国报》

“有多少作業”、“幾時考試”?從孩子上學開始,這些問題都成了父母的口頭禪。

考試大過天,孩子放學回家沒有作業,還會認定老師偷懶,這是應試教育症候群的基本發病症狀。

我國政府去年推行小學標準課程(Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah,簡稱KSSR)和校本評估(Pentaksiran Berasaskan Sekolah,簡稱PBS),並以后者檢定學生學習能力,在應試教育海洋中,激起層層漣漪。

校方不明白校本評估詳情、教師文書工作量增加、家長擔心少作業少考試影響孩子未來、有關當局不能有效傳達和執行新理念,形成重重迷霧。

本系列嘗試從各角度出發,理出一些頭緒!

政府推行小學標準課程和校本評估已進入第二年,后者更受到校方和家長關注,因為它的出現造成初中評估考試(PMR)可能走入歷史,甚至政府考慮廢除小學檢定考試(UPSR)。

筆者嘗試聯絡數間學校校長、老師和董家教,探詢他們對校本評估的意見,獲得的回應多是“對這個制度不清楚,所以不想多談”,甚至有者以教育部已在報章刊登廣告為由,拒絕發表意見。

一些不願名字見報的校長和老師則透露,執行校本評估面對許多模糊地帶,而且校本評估制度增加教師的工作量,等同把教育局的工作加在老師身上。

校方處于摸索階段

家長方面,許多家長並未發現學校已推行標準課程和校本評估,主要是校方處于摸索階段,未能向家長表達整個概念。

另一些家長則因PMR和UPSR兩項考試面臨取消,擔心無法掌握孩子的學習進度,因此憂心仲仲。

校本評估是教育界的迷霧,還是未來一朵盛放的花?在應試教育心態當道的社會,或無法獲得太大的認同。

今年7月15日,大馬考試局學術評估發展組副主任凱魯丁在《新標準課程及校本評估講解會》上,指出新舊教育制度的差異。

他指出,新制度著重學生的形成性影響(Formatif),舊制度以總結方式(Sumatif)評定一名學生的學習。

說白了,就是前者注重過程,學生一邊學習,老師一邊評估和修正以達到教育目的;后者注重結果,等到考試成績出來后,才去糾正或彌補學生不足。
 
關注學生性格形成

新教育制度注重形成性影響,關注學生性格形成和學習的過程,因而需要老師邊教導邊評估。

小學標準課程注重理解,而非死讀硬背,校本評估則是一種監督機制,發現學生需要改善能即時調整,兩者相輔相成。

凱魯丁說:“校本評估的目的,就是要曉得學生知、做和使用的能力”

他舉例,學生知道什么是板手(俗稱士班拿,Spanner),也要知道他它的功用,同時也要會使用它,老師能透過學生學習后的及時評估,確定學生的掌握能力。

從以上角度去看,小學標準課程和校本評估不啻是不錯的教育方向,但理念和執行唇齒相依,執行起來狀況連連,也是徒然。

如果有關當局無法使校方、老師和家長清楚小學標準課程和校本評估的理念,以及執行方式,教改這條路必然波折不斷。

理解和掌握力勝分數

分數不能代表一切,它只是一種數據,就如傳統考試一樣,並不能全面理解一個人的能力。

凱魯丁以征選飛機師為例。

“一位應征者考獲95分(滿分100分),卻不獲選,另一位只考得83分,卻成為合格人選,關鍵在于不是看他會什么,而是不會什么!”他說。

“如果考得較高分的機師應征者,頭髮梳得光亮、衣著整齊、皮鞋也抹得發亮,飛機起飛技術和操作機件也沒問題,但就是飛機著陸技術極差,換成是我,都不敢坐他駕的飛機。”

反之,另一位駕駛技術沒有問題,只是需要注意儀容,雖然分數較低,但卻適合當一名飛機師,“當然,當上飛機師后,就要特別訓練他注意儀容。”

懂得什么固然重要,不懂得什么更加不能忽視,這也是新的教育制度重心之一,不強調分數,而是理解和掌握能力。

新制度少作業少考試

我國政府在2011年10月開始,已開始啟動教育改革計劃,KSSR和PBS可視為一個重要的起點!

以教育部總監和秘書長為首的特別工作委員會,去年10月至今年2月重新評估我國教育制度,今年4月至11月則是進入規劃發展方向和策略藍圖的關鍵期。

我國自1979年后獨立以來,時隔33年再次教改,小學標準課程和校本評估儼然是全面教改前,重點改革部分。

教育不是只為了應付考試,但三四十年來,大部分學校和家長對于孩子的學習目的只有一個──考到好成績,才有光明的未來!

因此,當強調少作業和減少考試新制度出現,對在應試教育環境下成長,並且已為人父母和師長的一群,產生極大的衝擊。

應試教育阻教育前進

為人師表多年,目前是教育部課程發展組華文科主任林毓聰指出,應試教育是阻擋教育前進的大山,考試是教育的陰影!

他指出,根據20世紀80年代制訂的國家教育哲理,教育的理念就是要塑造一個在智力、情感、心理和生理方面,都能平衡與和諧的人。

“因此,我們的教育理念,並沒有要學生得到很多個A!所以,新的課程也是朝著1988年制定的國家教育哲理出發。”他說,即使應試教育已是阻擋教育的大山,教育依然需要重新出發。

20世紀末,全球教育亂象橫生,聯合國在1996年的《學習內在的財富》報告指出,21世紀教育的四大支柱是教導學生學會求知(Learning to know)、學會做事(Learning to do)、學會做人(Learning to be),以及學會共處(Learning to live together)。

“當一個孩子畢業時,看著他的背影,身為老師如何衡量教育成功或失敗呢?”林毓聰指出,聯合國提出的21世紀教育四大支柱就是標準。

他說,小孩需要的是終身教育,即可以帶得走的能力,如果在小學只是應付考試的機器,拿到的A是假的A,實際上並沒有A的能力。

什么是帶得走的能力?他認為,台灣逢甲大學的學生生涯規劃與職涯發展方針中,列出學生需備六個方面的軟能力(Soft skills),就是最好的詮釋。

這六個軟能力分別是溝通、團隊合作、解決問題、創新、自我管理和終身學習能力。

“這些就是要在學校教給孩子的能力,他們要帶著走一輩子的東西,這就是帶得走的能力。”他說。

小孩強調學習關鍵期

小孩什么時候該學什么,就讓他學習,因為那是他們的關鍵期!

林毓聰指出,小學新標準課程強調不能讓小孩錯過關鍵期,以免失去學習的黃金機會。

“零至4歲是學口頭語、4至8歲是閱讀書面語言,8至17歲是學習其他,不同階段有不同的關鍵期。”他說。

他以印度轟動一時的狼孩事件為例。當時,有兩名小孩不知何故跟狼群共生,當局救出兩人后,年紀較小者去世,另一名七、八歲的狼孩存活下來。

這名狼孩兩年后才能站立,6年后才能獨立行走,7年后才學會說45個字,16歲去世時只有三四歲小孩的智力。

“總的來看,這名狼孩是錯過關鍵期!”他說。

教育何嘗不是如此,如果在孩子該學習的階段,強逼他們做不適當的事,最終只會使孩子錯過關鍵期,成了只會讀死書和死背課本的一群。

摘自《中国报

2012年7月7日星期六

佛教变商品


前几天在《东方日报》看到这个报导:




读这个报导,才知道峨眉山在1997年就已经挂牌上市,而且「业绩」还很猛,年年上升。

令我好奇的是,到底是谁在主导这些所谓的「上市计划」?是中国佛教界人士还是执政的共产党干部?

这些名山上市后,资产就是属于股东的,那股东到底是谁?报导中没有提到。只是肯定的,这些佛教的文化胜地和精神遗产,就不再属于广大的佛教徒,而是成为唯利是图的商家的囊中物,无论如何对佛教徒来说是一种「浩劫」!是的,浩劫这两个字一点也不夸张,佛教就是可以随时变卖的商品!

中国开放前,由于文化大革命之类的浩劫,使到中国人的文明与文化被严重破坏,甚至消失殆尽;开放后,尝到了「一部分人富起来」的滋味,从此金钱挂帅,生活要比照甚至超过欧美的奢华,一切赚钱之上,共产党比资本主义还要资本主义。现在中国虽然总是把社会主义的口号喊得在「天宫一号」也可以听到,却没有半点社会主义的精神与行为,也失去宗教原有的内涵与文化,只有「唯物论」,这个「物」不是他物,唯金钱而已。我只能用「鼠目寸光」来形容那些处心积虑推动这些上市计划的人,把佛教搞得面目全非。

一个失去精神内涵的宗教,离烟消云散还会远吗?

2012年5月23日星期三

不是不能,而是不要!

副首相兼教育部长慕尤丁说:由于受限于教育法令和过去的决定,身为教育部长的他,无法在关丹独中课题上作出任何决定。

教育部长不能在教育课题上作决定?可以想象,一个家庭主妇不能决定要买什么菜,这岂不是笑死人吗?

再说,老慕也没有说明过去的什么决定,还有教育法令的哪一条使到他身为教育部长不能拍板决定是否建独中,是不是他个人说爽都不知道。只是教育不是人民的权利吗?国内的私人学校林立,独中也是教育机构吧?前阵子还宣布废除国际学校招收40%本地学生的固打制,这也教育决定吧?

很明显的,慕尤丁的思想在这个多元开放的社会依然固守在单元主义的狭窄空间。董总说,开办独中不获批准,全因教育部贯彻单元化教育。

董总也说,根据1996年教育法令第73条款阐明,法令内没有任何条款可被视为禁止设立及维持任何私立教育机构或学校。华文独中在国家教育制度里,被归类为私立学校,因此,既然教育部都批准开办私立小学、私立中学、私立宗教小学、私立宗教中学、私立特殊教育小学,甚至国际学校和侨民学校,实在没有理由不批准开办(实际上是复办)华文独立中学!

马来西亚就是这样,法律是由高官自由诠释的,他怎么说都可以,怎么说都对,随心所欲。可以的事情他说不可以,不可以的事情他说可以,你吹咩?

很明显的,这样的人,就是不要让华人可以受高等的华文教育,摆明了不要华人的选票,你还要投国阵?一个马来西亚?我呸!

2012年5月3日星期四

Samsung Galaxy S3 抢先发布啦!


Samsung Galaxy S3 launch: Android's 'iPhone killer' brings eye-tracking and voice control technology to the smartphone battle


  • Samsung unveiled latest flagship smartphone at Apple-style launch party in London
  • Eye-tracking and voice-control revealed as key new features
  • Owners get 4.8" screen, quad-core processor, NFC payments, voice control and face-recognition
  • Wireless charging kit removes the clutter of wires
  • Mail Online verdict: 'Samsung has raised the stakes here - and Apple will have to do something truly special to beat this'


Samsung tonight unveiled its latest flagship device, the Galaxy S3, the follow-up to last year's best-selling phone in the world.

The smartphone market moves on once more, with the hi-tech voice-controlled Galaxy S3 likely to becomes a standard-bearer for Google’s Android operating system - and a device for the Apple refuseniks.

The phone’s most innovative feature is built-in face-tracking and voice control - allowing, Samsung claims, for a more 'natural' control system.

Other innovations include what Samsung claims is a 'more intelligent' lock system, that keeps the screen 'awake' when the phone’s camera senses eyes watching it, rather than turning it off.

Blue and white: The Samsung S3 launches at the end of May, available in 'pebble blue' and 'marble white'

The voice control system is called S Voice - and allows access to weather forecasts, web searches and scheduling, similar to iPhone’s Siri system.

Saying 'I want to take a picture' launches the camera application - and will work in eight languages at launch.
S Voice can also reply out loud - which Samsung claims will allow the system to be used while driving.

Available in blue and white, the phone will be launched at the end of May, starting in Europe, with other regions following.

Samsung played on its expertise in screens with a large 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen running a resolution of 1280 x 720p - far bigger than Apple’s iPhone, and close in size to the smaller end of the tablet market.

Ready for launch: A still from Samsung's presentation reveals the S3 for the first time
Ready for launch: A still from Samsung's presentation reveals the S3 for the first time

Samsung Galaxy S3
Screen size:
4.8 inch
Processor:
1.4 Ghz quad-core
Memory size:
Up to 32gb (+64gb with card)
Operating system:
Android Ice Cream Sandwich
Camera:
Eight megapixel
Weight:
133grams
Dimensions:
Height - 136mm
Width - 70mm
Depth - 8.5mm
Battery:
2100mAh



HTC One X
Screen size:
4.7 inch
Processor:
1.5Ghz quad-core
Memory size:
32GB (non-expandable)
Operating system:
Android Ice Cream Sandwich
Camera:
Eight megapixel
Weight:
130grams
Dimensions:
Height - 134mm
Width - 69mm
Depth - 8.9mm
Battery:
1800mAh



iPhone 4s
Screen size:
3.5 inch
Processor:
800 MHz dual-core
Memory size:
Up to 64gb (non-expandable)
Operating system:
iOS
Camera:
Eight megapixel
Weight:
140grams
Dimensions:
Height - 115mm
Width - 58mm
Depth - 9mm
Battery:
1432mAh




The S3 is powered by a quad-core processor - similar to the ones found in many laptops, and far more powerful than the dual core found in the iPhone.


The phone also includes an NFC chip - near-field-communications - allowing users to share content such as video by tapping phones together.

And if you are sick of wires, a separate wireless charging kit means you can charge your phone without hooking it up to the socket.

Hundreds of people packed into the auditorium to see the launch of the phone
Live audience: Hundreds of people packed into the Earls Court auditorium to see the launch of the phone


Samsung pointed out that while the screen is 22 per cent larger than the previous S2, the 'bezel' around it has been slimmed down, so that the gadget is barely bigger than its predecessor.



The gadget will launch on May 29 in Europe, and in 10 other cities worldwide including Tokyo and Dubai.

The gadget also has some features clearly aimed at the business market once dominated by BlackBerry.

On-device encryption will allow secure emails working within business networks - catering for the new trend for businesses allowing employees to 'bring their own' smartphones rather than using company phones.

The NFC chip will also be used for tap-to-pay mobile payments, in partnership with Visa, with a 'virtual wallet' on the device making payment simple.

The phone is also armed with a battery claimed to last longer than other devices - despite a form factor which is 8.6mm thin and 130g in weight.

The phone has an eight megapixel camera - on a par with both iPhone 4S and the previous Galaxy S2.
The device was presented by Samsung president JK Shin, who said: 'There were a lot of rumours and speculation - some were right, and some were wrong.

'The Galaxy S3 is the best-in-class smartphone in the world.'

The phone was shown off by The Gadget Show’s Suzi Perry at a high-profile event at London's Earls Court exhibition centre - a large, clearly expensive stage show that had a distinct resemblance to Apple’s well-choreographed showings for new iPhones and iPads.

'This is the biggest launch event of the year,' said Perry.

Samsung is also to launch a range of pop-up shops which will show off the handset around Europe - announcing this in a way reminiscent of Steve Job's traditional, 'One last thing,' at their product launches.

A new feature called ‘Pop up Play’ enables multitasking - so that you can, for instance, put a video in a window on screen, then use other apps with the rest of the screen.

This sort of feature was previously the province of Windows or Mac machines, rather than phones.



The camera can also burst-shoot at speeds of up to 20 frames per second - faster than many pro-grade cameras.

The camera also automatically zooms in on faces by double-tapping the screen and a ‘best-shot’ mode auto-selects the best out of the burst.

Enlarge 
Some of the apps pre-installed on the S3
Some of the apps pre-installed on the S3
The phone’s front camera can also shoot in HD - still rare in smartphones - and take still images at the same time. 

Sharing photos with friends is also speeded up by face-recognition technology - which offers to 'share' photos with any friends detected in a photo using hi-tech face recognition, sharing either by text message or email, with a bubble popping up over each person's face with the option to send the photo to them.


The S2 is expected to cost around £35-£40 per month. Carphone Warehouse said their tariffs would start for £36 on a 24-month contract.

The S3 also contains voice controls - which brings it up to speed with the iPhone's Siri - but users may be wondering if it will be another damp squib.

Despite the fun of Apple's Siri, most users prefer traditional controls over speaking to their phone, and the feature which launched the iPhone 4s is not used my many users.
The Samsung Galaxy S3 will be heavily promoted with a worldwide advertising campaign starting this week.

Samsung is now the biggest phone manufacturer in the world, and for this launch they took a page out of Apple's marketing guide and kept everything hush-hush.

Even Samsung's invite to journalists and enthusiasts for the launch in Earl's Court, London, played it quiet - simply inviting people to 'come and meet the next Galaxy'.

The stylus-equipped Samsung Note was a hit for Samsung, proving there is a market for five-inch devices
The stylus-equipped Galaxy Note was a hit for Samsung, proving there is a market for devices with five-inch screens




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